COP CORDONS SWITCHED AT POISON SITES

HIGH-security barriers have sprung up around nine toxic hotspots in Salisbury as locals are braced for a multi-million decontamination operation following last month’s Novichok nerve agent attack.

The robust hoardings have replaced police cordons at The Maltings shopping centre, The Mill pub, Riverside House and Zizzi restaurant.

A police station, two ambulance stations and a council building are also likely to undergo decontamination.

The clean-up at these sites is expected to take months, but officials have said the rest of the historic Wiltshire city remains safe for residents and visitors.

But diners who visited the same pub and restaurant as Sergei and Yulia Skripal are STILL waiting for their clothes to be decontaminated.

Disposal

Anybody who was in the Mill Pub or Zizzi between 2.30pm on March 4 and when the outlets closed the following day were told to bag up their clothes and leave them in their homes for collection.

Yesterday Wiltshire council admitted no items have been picked up yet and no compensation paid for those who had been wearing dry-cleanonly clothes.

A council spokesman said: “Those claims are in the process of being collated and assessed.

“Once this is complete collection arrangements will be agreed and compensation paid.

“No items have been collected to date and the disposal method has yet to be agreed.”